For Indian designer Shivin Singh, one of the biggest challenges for a BIPOC creative in Italy “is navigating an industry that often operates in a Eurocentric context. In Italian fashion, there is a deep appreciation for cultural heritage, but there is little room for narratives that don’t fit into the Western perspective,” Singh says.
Ghanaian fashion designer Victor Hart is even harsher. “Underpaid and discriminated against, as a BIPOC designer in Italy I have often been marginalized for being black. The truth is that I have to work ten times harder than my Italian colleagues to get the opportunities I strive for,” Hart says.
Hart and Ntsama’s testimonies are joined by suggestions from Ghanaian designer Steve French. “For BIPOC creatives to truly thrive, we need a supportive infrastructure that ensures equal access to resources, networks and opportunities. This includes fair pay, mentorship programs and platforms that showcase our work without bias.” Creative industries in Italy are often criticized for their lack of diversity. “Being inclusive means more than just being present, it means having an active voice in shaping the narrative,” French recalls.
One voice redefining narratives through plural and inclusive communication is that of Susanna Owusu Twumwah, Diaspora & Migration Expert with an innovative approach to communication. Writing is her medium for exploring and reinterpreting the present, weaving together themes such as art, fashion, bodies and blackness. “In Italy, those who work in communication and come from migration backgrounds struggle to access spaces that are still white and not decolonized. Dominant perspectives remain Eurocentric, making it difficult to narrate a truly plural Italy. We need to build spaces of real representation, where people are heard not just because they are racialized, but because they are competent.”
You can also find this article in the March 2025 issue of Vogue Italia.
CREDITS
Photo IMAD SKHAIRI
Stylist SORELLE TOLEDO
Hair CYNTHIA OWUSU
Make-up SHEILA CARDOSO, THEO CARIAS
Assistant Photographer BEN DRAME
Executive Producer MICHELLE FRANCINE NGONMO
Production CLEOLEEN HANCILES, CAROLINA ANJOS CHRISTELLE NGONMO
Location ACCADEMIA DEL LUSSO MILAN
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